Wetherspoon costs increase January 16, 2013 JD WETHERSPOON outpaced rival operators during Christmas, the pub chain reported yesterday, with like-for-like sales rising eight per cent over the festive period. However, a surprising hit to profit margins spooked City investors. The company, which runs over 800 pubs, said margins were around 8.2 per cent, which is 1.1 percentage points lower than last year, due [...]
The Tipster | Punch Drunk January 14, 2013 ALTHOUGH shares in J D Wetherspoon are up by 24 per cent over the last year, continued pressure on its margins, and no major sporting events in 2013, mean that it may not be a cheerful year for the pub chain. ETX Capital quotes a price of 516.22p-519.78p. Shares in ASOS more than doubled in 2012. [...]
UK consumer price index is forecast higher January 13, 2013 UTILITY prices are expected to have lifted the UK’s consumer price index (CPI), the household spending index due out tomorrow along with a swathe of housing and retail data. “We expect CPI inflation to have edged up to 2.8 per cent year on year in December from 2.7 per cent, and retail price index (RPI) [...]
Hunger for profits takes a bite from Chiquito owner’s shares January 9, 2013 THE FTSE 100 is at a four-year high, but you’d still have been better off plumping for mid-range dining rather than blue chip heavyweights over the last six months. The index hasn’t even managed a 10 per cent increase since mid-July, but the Restaurant Group’s shares have risen some 30 per cent over the same [...]
Bargains bring home the bacon but bite into profits December 9, 2012 AS DECENT numbers for Nando’s reveal the chain moved into profit last year after three in the red, the cheaper end of the restaurant sector may be turning a corner. The latest figures from BDO indicate that operators including the Restaurant Group and JD Wetherspoon have seen an upturn in trade in September and October. [...]
Floor price for alcohol will hit poor hardest November 28, 2012 THE GOVERNMENT yesterday unveiled plans to introduce minimum prices for alcohol, despite concerns that such a move will penalise ordinary drinkers. The home office proposals include a ban on multi-buy promotions and a minimum unit price of 45p in England and Wales. As a result a one litre bottle of Gordon’s gin – currently available from [...]
Pub meals help Mitchells and Butlers as it faces muted sales November 27, 2012 PUBS and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday reported a rise in full-year profit but like-for-like sales in the first eight weeks of the new year were flat, sending its shares down as much as five per cent. The owner of All Bar One, Harvester and O’Neills chains said alcohol duty increases and food price [...]
Olympic Games give boost to JD Wetherspoon after wet summer November 8, 2012 PUB chain giant JD Wetherspoon yesterday said a boost from the Olympic and Paralympic Games had led sales to rise by 11.1 per cent in the 13 week period to 28 October. The results suggested an upturn in the wider pub trade in late summer and early autumn, after wet weather in the previous quarter [...]
Raft of firms set to release figures as Bank debates if more QE needed November 4, 2012 THE biggest question for UK investors this week is whether the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will opt for more quantitative easing. The decision, which will be announced on Thursday, comes after strong jobs and GDP data. “Strong third quarter GDP data suggested that underlying growth was slightly stronger than previously thought and [...]
The Tipster | Raise your glass to JD Wetherspoon September 10, 2012 TRADERS have been questioning JD Wetherspoon, after the company’s share price stumbled over the last few weeks. However, there is optimism about the full-year results, due this week, as the European football championships are expected to have helped the pub chain. Shares hit year-highs above 480p in August, and the firm is expected to report [...]